15 Things Every Jock Knows To Be True

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Some truths in sports are self-evident. Some of these examples are applicable to all athletes, and some are applicable only to professional athletes. No matter what, these 15 facts are realized by every athlete at one point or another.

15. Someone's Always Trying To Take Your Job

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15. Someone's Always Trying To Take Your Job

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Like in other cutthroat industries, companies are always looking for the next big thing. In sports, that means the next young stud coming to fill your position. If you're not always at the top of your game, there's a good chance you'll lose your job.

14. Your Kids Will Brag About You

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14. Your Kids Will Brag About You

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Most kids look up to their parents anyway, so imagine how much the kids of professional athletes look up to their parents. At least at the beginning of their life, they're sure to tell all their friends exactly who their parents are.

13. The Media Can Be Annoying

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13. The Media Can Be Annoying

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Most journalists are just trying to do their jobs, but every now and then there is one who can get on the nerves of athletes. Just by the nature of both businesses, the media and athletes are going to butt heads from time to time.

12. Fame and Fortune Aren't Always Good

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12. Fame and Fortune Aren't Always Good

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Sure, the money and popularity can be great at times, but it can also cause some major problems. Not being able to have much of a private life is a pretty big thing to lose for most professional athletes.

11. You're Lucky To Get To Do What You Love

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11. You're Lucky To Get To Do What You Love

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A lot of athletes take their careers for granted. Others don't, and really every athlete should take the time every now and then to soak in exactly the life they're living and how many people would kill to trade spots with them.

10. Careers Are Short

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10. Careers Are Short

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Careers take place over a finite period of time, and athletes have to make the most of their opportunity. They're in the spotlight during their playing days, but they also have to think about what comes after sports.

9. You Have To Make Sacrifices To Go Pro

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9. You Have To Make Sacrifices To Go Pro

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Whether it be spending less time with friends, cutting down on junk food or anything else, elite athletes have to make plenty of sacrifices. Those can pay off in the end, but having the faith they will pay off is sometimes the biggest hurdle that athletes face.

8. The Money Will Be There If You Work Hard

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8. The Money Will Be There If You Work Hard

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Ideally, all talented athletes will get a shot at the pros. That doesn't always happen, but generally when an athlete gives it their all and has a great deal of talent, they're in for a big payday down the line.

7. Making Time For Family Is Tough

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7. Making Time For Family Is Tough

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Traveling for almost half the year and doing intense training during the offseason gives elite athletes little time to spend with their families. Many find ways to make it work, but it surely puts a strain on many marriages across sports.

6. Lifting Weights Helps You Get Better

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6. Lifting Weights Helps You Get Better

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From the time you step into the gym in high school, you're told that lifting weights will help with your athletic performance. That's absolutely true because mixing a great body with talent can be what creates an elite athlete.

5. You're A Role Model For Kids

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5. You're A Role Model For Kids

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Like it or not, you have a duty as an athlete to be a role model for young kids everywhere. It can be a great pressure for many, but for those who embrace the opportunity, real change can be made in young kids' lives.

4. You're A Rare Talent

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4. You're A Rare Talent

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To be playing sports professionally at any level, you have to be uniquely talented. Sometimes hard work separates the men from the boys, but you have a special talent if you're playing a sport and getting paid to do so.

3. Sports Is A Business

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3. Sports Is A Business

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This can be hard for college athletes to comprehend at first, but they quickly learn it when they turn pro. It can be a challenge for players who have always played for the love of game to make money and business a top priority, but every athlete learns about this aspect of sports relatively quickly.

2. Getting The Ladies Is Easy

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2. Getting The Ladies Is Easy

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Obviously this aspect of being a professional sports star is both a blessing and a curse. Sure, you get all the women you want, but it can also get you into some serious trouble. If you don't believe me, just ask Tiger Woods.

1. There's Life After Sports

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1. There's Life After Sports

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Taking an idea from Moneyball, not everyone is told they can't play anymore right away. Some are told when they're 40, but they're all told. At the heart of that idea is that even the best athletes in the world will break down eventually. Figuring out what to do after that point is what distinguishes great person from a great athlete.

Some athletes are born with not only the talent to play their chosen sport, but also the ability to tell a good joke or launch an insult that you can't help but laugh at. Here are 15 of the funniest. Read More